JGD #8: Severe Storm Warning

The Jets continue their trend
of facing off against natural disasters when they welcome the Colorado Avalanche to the MTS Centre Sunday afternoon. The Jets hope to wrap up their
five-game home stand on a positive note after winning just one in the previous
four games on home ice.

One of last season’s surprise
teams, the Avalanche have struggled early on this season, winning just their
second game of the season Friday night against the Vancouver Canucks.

This is the first of five
meetings this season between the Jets and Colorado. Last season Winnipeg lost
three of five games to the Avs, but four of the games needed overtime or a
shootout to decide a winner.

The forward lines remain
unchanged from last game, and why would they be? The team has found ways to
score in the past two games. Plus there is a stir that Evander Kane is skating
and will be looking to return to the ice. He will be a much-needed boost for a
team that could use his scoring touch.

Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler
have provided most of the Jets offence this season each posting five points in
six games this season.

Jets Defence

•Stuart-Trouba

•Bogosian-Enstrom

•Clitsome-Pardy

•Pavalec

•Hutchinson

The Jets defence looks similar
to most nights with the top two pairings looking like a lock to play every
night this season.

The final pairing continues its
carousel of Winnipeg’s bottom three rearguards. Tonight sees Adam Pardy draw
back into the lineup in place of the younger, and faster Paul Postma. Grant
Clitsome will play his third consecutive game after some solid outings against the
Hurricanes and Lightning.

I would rather see Postma and
Clitsome play together more often, but maybe Maurice feels that Pardy’s
physical play is more of an asset against the speedy Colorado forwards.

Avalanche Forwards

•Landeskog-Mackinnon-O’Reilly

•Tanguay-Duchene-Iginla

•McGinn-Mitchell-Talbot

•McLeod-Cliche-Briere

First off, WOW. The Avs boast a
top-six group of forwards that would be envious of most teams in the league.
The line of Matt Duchene and the newly reunited Iginla and Tanguay have been
the most productive for Colorado this season, combining for eight goals and 10
assists in eight games, (two of which were shutouts against the Minnesota
Wild).

Colorado’s top line has
struggled to get the ball rolling early on this season, but we know what those
young forwards are capable of doing. Lets just hope they don’t break out of
their funk against the Jets, and yes I am counting Landeskog (3g), Mackinnon
(4a) and O’Reilly (1g, 4a) a funk.

Avalanche Defence

•Hejda-Johnson

•Stuart-Barrie

•Holden-Redmond

•Varlamov

•Berra

Colorado’s defence is better
than last season, but I for one still find the core a little underwhelming for
the offence the team can bring. I like the progression in Tyson Barrie’s career
and I like that they have paired him with longtime NHLer Brad Stuart.

Eric Johnson is a solid d-man
as well and could very well be the best blueliner on this team. Don’t forget he
was a first-overall draft choice in 2006, taken ahead of Jordan Staal, Jonathan
Toews, Nicklas Backstrom and Phil Kessel.

PREDICTIONS

Game Day Prediction: The Jets will be looking to come away with a win Sunday having
won just one of four games on this early season home stand. The Avalanche who
have struggled at times this season provide Winnipeg a chance to walk away with
two points. Jets win 5-2.

Obvious Prediction: Colorado boasts some of the youngest stars in the NHL. I
believe that someone under the age of 25 will score a goal for the Avalanche.
This will include Mackinnon, Duchene, O’Reilly, Landeskog, and Barrie.

Not So Obvious Prediction: Jacob Trouba nets his first and second goal of the 2014-15 NHL
season. So far in seven games they young d-man has yet to score or assist on
any goals.